Magnetic resonance arthrography accuracy in the detection of labral tears in young patients with chronic unstable shoulder: correlation with arthroscopy.

The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic performance of Magnetic Resonance Arthrography (MRA) in evaluating lesions of the glenoid labrum, in young active patients with chronic unstable shoulder, compared to shoulder arthroscopy. We retrospectively considered 65 MRA examinations, performed between December 2011 and January 2018. Among them, thirty-five patients (31 men, 4 women; mean age, 27.3 years; range, 16-53 years; 4 patients with a previous arthroscopy of the same shoulder) underwent shoulder arthroscopy after MRA. Arthroscopic reports were collected and analyzed for the correlation with MRA results.

Primary neoplasms of the small bowel at CT: a pictorial essay for the clinician.

OBJECTIVE: Primary small intestinal neoplasms are uncommon tumors that are often small and difficult to identify. The aim of this paper is to describe CT technique and features in detecting and characterizing the tumors of the small bowel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This paper focuses on radiological characteristics of benign and malignant primary neoplasms of the small bowel at CT, with special reference to multidetector-CT techniques, type and modality of administration of contrast agents (by oral route or CT-enterography and by nasojejunal tube or CT-enteroclysis). This paper will also provide pictures and description of CT findings of benign and malignant primary neoplasms using examples of CT-enterography and CT-enteroclysis. RESULTS: Among CT modalities, CT-enterography has the advantage of defining the real extension of wall lesions, possible transmural extension, the degree of mesenteric involvement and remote metastasis. Other useful modalities for the diagnosis of such lesions like capsule endoscopy and enteroscopy, provide important information but limited to mucosal changes with lower accuracy on extension and bowel wall involvement or submucosal lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Multidetector-CT, performed after distension of the small bowel with oral contrast material and intravenous injection of iodinated contrast material, is a useful method for the diagnosis and staging of small bowel neoplasms.

Bone texture analysis using CT-simulation scans to individuate risk parameters for radiation-induced insufficiency fractures.

This study deals with the role of texture analysis as a predictive factor of radiation-induced insufficiency fractures in patients undergoing pelvic radiation. INTRODUCTION: This study aims to assess the texture analysis (TA) of computed tomography (CT) simulation scans as a predictive factor of insufficiency fractures (IFs) in patients with pelvic malignancies undergoing radiation therapy (RT). METHODS: We performed an analysis of patients undergoing pelvic RT from January 2010 to December 2014, 24 of whom had developed pelvic bone IFs. We analyzed CT-simulation images using ImageJ macro software and selected two regions of interest (ROIs), which are L5 body and the femoral head. TA parameters included mean (m), standard deviation (SD), skewness (sk), kurtosis (k), entropy (e), and uniformity (u). The IFs patients were compared (1:2 ratio) with controlled patients who had not developed IFs and matched for sex, age, menopausal status, type of tumor, use of chemotherapy, and RT dose. A reliability test of intra- and inter-reader ROI TA reproducibility with the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was performed. Univariate and multivariate analyses (logistic regression) were applied for TA parameters observed both in the IFs and the controlled groups. RESULTS: Inter- and intra-reader ROI TA was highly reproducible (ICC > 0.90). Significant TA parameters on paired t test included L5 m (p = 0.001), SD (p = 0.002), k (p = 0.006), e (p = 0.004), and u (p = 0.015) and femoral head m (p < 0.001) and SD (p = 0.001), whereas on logistic regression analysis, L5 e (p = 0.003) and u (p = 0.010) and femoral head m (p = 0.027), SD (p = 0.015), and sex (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, bone CT TA could be correlated to the risk of radiation-induced IFs. Studies on a large patient series and methodological refinements are warranted.

Sperm with fibrous sheath dysplasia and anomalies in head-neck junction: focus on centriole and centrin 1.

Spermatozoa with a rare combination of two monomorphic sperm defects, dysplasia of the fibrous sheath (DFS) and alterations in head-mid-piece junction were analysed. The main focus was to explore the status of the centriole, a key organisation during fertilisation, using the centrin 1, a calcium-binding protein linked to this structure. The sperm quality was examined by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM); immunocytochemistry was performed for tubulin, A-kinase anchor protein 4 (AKAP4) and centrin 1. Spermatozoa showed DFS defect associated with anomalies in head-tail attachment detected by SEM and TEM. Immunolocalisation of tubulin, AKAP4 and centrin 1 confirmed these alterations. Centrin 1 was visible in 67% of spermatozoa (in only 13% centrin localised in a normal position); in the majority of sperm centrin 1's location was altered, sometimes bent; often four spots, indicating the presence of two implantation fossae, were detected. At the centriolar level, immunoreactive fragments, frequently invading the entire short and thick tail, were observed. Centrin 1 is an essential component of the spermatozoa connecting piece and plays a role in centrosome dynamics during sperm morphogenesis and in zygotes and early embryos during spindle assembly. It is important to shed light on these rare conditions in order to better manage the patients during assisted reproductive technology.

Water/cortical bone decomposition: A new approach in dual energy CT imaging for bone marrow oedema detection. A feasibility study.

INTRODUCTION: Many studies aimed at validating the application of Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) in clinical practice where conventional CT is not exhaustive. An example is given by bone marrow oedema detection, in which DECT based on water/calcium (W/Ca) decomposition was applied. In this paper a new DECT approach, based on water/cortical bone (W/CB) decomposition, was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients suffering from marrow oedema were scanned with MRI and DECT. Two-materials density decomposition was performed in ROIs corresponding to normal bone marrow and oedema. These regions were drawn on DECT images using MRI informations. Both W/Ca and W/CB were considered as material basis. Scatter plots of W/Ca and W/CB concentrations were made for each ROI in order to evaluate if oedema could be distinguished from normal bone marrow. Thresholds were defined on the scatter plots in order to produce DECT images where oedema regions were highlighted through color maps. The agreement between these images and MR was scored by two expert radiologists. RESULTS: For all the patients, the best scores were obtained using W/CB density decomposition. CONCLUSIONS: In all cases, DECT color map images based on W/CB decomposition showed better agreement with MR in bone marrow oedema identification with respect to W/Ca decomposition. This result encourages further studies in order to evaluate if DECT based on W/CB decomposition could be an alternative technique to MR, which would be important when short scanning duration is relevant, as in the case of aged or traumatic patients.

Placenta expresses anti-Müllerian hormone and its receptor: Sex-related difference in fetal membranes.

INTRODUCTION: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a member of the transforming growth factor-ß superfamily, playing a role in sexual differentiation and recruitment. Since a correlation exists between AMH serum levels in cord blood and fetal sex, the present study aimed to identify mRNA and protein expression of AMH and AMHRII in placenta and fetal membranes according to fetal sex. METHODS: Placenta and fetal membranes samples (n = 40) were collected from women with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies at term. Identification of AMH protein in placenta and fetal membranes was carried out by immunohistochemistry and AMH and AMHRII protein localization by immunofluorescence, while mRNA expression was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULT: AMH and AMHRII mRNAs were expressed by placenta and fetal membranes at term, without any significant difference between males and females. Placental immunostaining showed a syncytial localization of AMH without sex-related differences; while fetal membranes immunostaining was significantly more intense in male than in female fetuses (p < 0,01). Immunofluorescence showed an intense co-localization of AMH and AMHRII in placenta and fetal membranes. DISCUSSION: The present study for the first time demonstrated that human placenta and fetal membranes expresses and co-localizes AMH and AMHRII. Although no sex-related difference was found for the mRNA expression both in placenta and fetal membranes, a most intense staining for AMH in male fetal membranes supports AMH as a gender specific hormone.

NADPH oxidase activation and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal/aquaporin-4 adducts as possible new players in oxidative neuronal damage presents in drug-resistant epilepsy.

A correlation between epilepsy and cellular redox imbalance has been suggested, although the mechanism by which oxidative stress (OS) can be implicated in this disorder is not clear. In the present study several oxidative stress markers and enzymes involved in OS have been determined. In particular, we examined the levels of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal protein adducts (HNE-PA), a by-product of lipid peroxidation, and the activation of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), as cellular source of superoxide (O(2)(-)), in surgically resected epileptic tissue from drug-resistant patients (N=50). In addition, we investigated whether oxidative-mediated protein damage can affect aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a water channel implicated in brain excitability and epilepsy. Results showed high levels of HNE-PA in epileptic hippocampus, in both neurons and glial cells and cytoplasmic positivity for p47(phox) and p67(phox) suggesting NOX2 activation. Interestingly, in epileptic tissue immunohistochemical localization of AQP4 was identified not only in perivascular astrocytic endfeet, but also in neurons. Nevertheless, negativity for AQP4 was observed in neurons in degeneration. Of note, HNE-mediated post-translational modifications of AQP4 were increased in epileptic tissues and double immunofluorescence clearly demonstrated co-localization of AQP4 and HNE-PA in epileptic hippocampal structures. The idea is that sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharges activates NOX2 with O(2)(-) production, leading to lipid peroxidation. The resulting generation of HNE targets AQP4, affecting water and ion balance. Therefore, we suggest that seizure induces oxidative damage as well as neuronal loss, thereby promoting neuronal hyperexcitability, also affecting water and ion balance by AQP4 modulation, and thus generating a vicious cycle.

SUMO1 in human sperm: new targets, role in motility and morphology and relationship with DNA damage.

In studies carried out previously, we demonstrated that small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO1) is associated with poor sperm motility when evaluated with a protocol that reveals mostly SUMO1-ylated live sperm. Recently, with another protocol, it has been demonstrated that SUMO is expressed in most sperm and is related to poor morphology and motility, suggesting that sumoylation may have multiple roles depending on its localisation and targets. We show herein, by confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation, that dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), Ran GTPase-activating protein 1 (RanGAP1) and Topoisomerase IIα, SUMO1 targets in somatic and/or germ cells, are SUMO1-ylated in mature human spermatozoa. DRP1 co-localises with SUMO1 in the mid-piece, whereas RanGAP1 and Topoisomerase IIα in the post-acrosomal region of the head. Both SUMO1 expression and co-localisation with the three proteins were significantly higher in morphologically abnormal sperm, suggesting that sumoylation represents a marker of defective sperm. DRP1 sumoylation at the mid-piece level was higher in the sperm of asthenospermic men. As in somatic cells, DRP1 sumoylation is associated with mitochondrial alterations, this protein may represent the link between SUMO and poor motility. As SUMO pathways are involved in responses to DNA damage, another aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between sumoylation and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). By flow cytometry, we demonstrated that SUMO1-ylation and SDF are correlated (r=0.4, P<0.02, n=37) and most sumoylated sperm shows DNA damage in co-localisation analysis. When SDF was induced by stressful conditions (freezing and thawing and oxidative stress), SUMO1-ylation increased. Following freezing and thawing, SUMO1-Topoisomerase IIα co-localisation and co-immunoprecipitation increased, suggesting an involvement in the formation/repair of DNA breakage.

All solution processed low turn-on voltage near infrared LEDs based on core-shell PbS-CdS quantum dots with inverted device structure.

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are extraordinarily appealing for the development of light emitting devices (LEDs) due to tunable and pure color emission, brightness and solution processability. This last advantage of the QD-LEDs is even more evident in the field of infrared emission where the devices currently used are prepared by high cost epitaxial techniques. Here we show the fabrication of low cost NIR QD-LEDs based on high quantum yield core-shell PbS-CdS QDs and a novel inverted device structure. Devices are produced using SnO2:F (FTO) as the conductive transparent contact, nanostructured TiO2 as the electron transport layer (ETL) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) P3HT as the hole transport layer (HTL). Despite the roughness of this ETL, the obtained external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) are similar to previously reported values, obtained with regular configuration and more expensive ITO substrates. A turn-on voltage as low as the QD band gap (1.47 eV) is achieved for a large area (1.54 cm(2)) and relatively stable QD-LEDs.

Resveratrol protects SR-B1 levels in keratinocytes exposed to cigarette smoke.

Cigarette smoking (CS) has been strongly linked to several health conditions including heart disease, lung cancer, and other respiratory and circulatory ailments. Deleterious effects of cigarette smoking on skin have also been well documented, but unlike effects on other organs, damage does not depend upon inhalation. The upper layer of the skin, the stratum corneum (rich in cholesterol fatty acids and ceramide), is very susceptible to damage induced by exposure to environmental stressors that can modify its lipid composition and thereby affect its function of protecting skin from dehydration. Scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1) is involved in the uptake of cholesterol in several tissues including skin. We previously demonstrated that CS exposure induces formation of aldehyde (HNE) adducts that decrease SR-B1 expression. As topical resveratrol, a well-known polyphenolic stilbene, has been demonstrated to show benefits against skin disorders, we investigated its possible role as a protective agent against CS-induced reduction of SR-B1 expression in cutaneous tissue. In this study, we demonstrate that resveratrol at doses ranging from 0.5 to 10 µM is not toxic and is able to increase SR-B1 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner in human keratinocytes. Moreover, when the cells that were pretreated with various doses of resveratrol were exposed to CS, the loss of SR-B1 was prevented in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, in keratinocytes, resveratrol was also able to prevent an increase in HNE-protein adducts induced by CS. In particular resveratrol was able to prevent HNE-SR-B1 adduct formation. Thus, resveratrol seems to be a natural compound that could provide skin with a defense against exogenous stressors by protecting the essential cholesterol receptor, SR-B1.

Hypoxia induces cell damage via oxidative stress in retinal epithelial cells.

Retinal diseases (RD), including diabetic retinopathy, are among the most important eye diseases in industrialized countries. RD is characterized by abnormal angiogenesis associated with an increase in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Hypoxia could be one of the triggers of the pathogenic mechanism of this disease. A key regulatory component of the cell's hypoxia response system is hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α). It has been demonstrated that the induction of HIF-1α expression can be also achieved in vitro by exposure with cobalt chloride (CoCl2), leading to an intracellular hypoxia-like state. In this study we have investigated the effects of CoCl2 on human retinal epithelium cells (hRPE), which are an integral part of the blood-retinal barrier, with the aim to determine the possible role of oxidative stress in chemical hypoxia-induced damage in retinal epithelial cells. Our data showed that CoCl2 treatment is able to induce HIF-1α expression, that parallels with the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the increase of lipid 8-isoprostanes and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) protein adducts levels. In addition we observed the activation of the redox-sensitive transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkB) by CoCl2 which can explain the increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The increased number of dead cells seems to be related to an apoptotic process. Taken together these evidences suggest that oxidative stress induced by hypoxia might be involved in RD development through the stimulation of two key-events of RD such as neo-angiogenesis and apoptosis.

Ozonated oils as functional dermatological matrices: effects on the wound healing process using SKH1 mice.

Wound tissue repair is a complex and dynamic process of restoring cellular structures and tissue layers. Improvement of this process is crucial for several pathologies characterized by chronic delayed wound closure such as diabetes, and the investigation of new approaches aimed to ameliorate the wound healing process is under continuous evolution. Recently, the usage of vegetable matrices in the form of ozonated oils has been proposed and several researchers have shown a positive effect in the wound, based on their bactericidal, antiviral, and antifungal properties. The present study was undertaken to compare the effect that different ozonated oils (olive, sesame and linseed) with the same level of ozonation have on wound healing rate in SKH1 mice. Several histological parameters and the level of key proteins such as VEGF and PCNA have been analyzed. Only treatment with ozonated sesame oil shows a faster wound closure in the first 7 days. This effect paralleled with the increased VEGF and PCNA levels, NFκB nuclear translocation and 4-HNE formation. The present study shows that not only the ozonation grade is of importance for the improvement of wound healing process but also the typical composition of the oil.

IL-1ß induces GFAP expression in vitro and in vivo and protects neurons from traumatic injury-associated apoptosis in rat brain striatum via NFκB/Ca²âº-calmodulin/ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

Reactive astrogliosis, a feature of neuro-inflammation is induced by a number of endogenous mediators including cytokines. Despite interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) stands out as the major inducer of this process, the underlying mechanism and its role on neuronal viability remain elusive. We investigated in human astrocytoma cells and the rat brain striatum, the role of the nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) calmodulin (CaM) and extracellular regulated mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK1/2) in IL-1ß-induced expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuronal apoptosis associated to a brain trauma. Cell data showed that IL-1ß (1 ng/ml) increased NF-kB, pERK1/2 and GFAP expression. Nevertheless, further increase in IL-1ß levels reversed progressively these responses. Preventing ERK1/2 activation with 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis[2-aminophenylthiol]-butadiene antagonized IL-1ß-induced GFAP expression while inhibiting selectively nuclear translocation of NF-kB with caffeic-acid phenethyl-ester down-regulated both ERK1/2 and GFAP expression induced by IL-1ß. The GFAP response was also prevented by antagonizing selectively increase in [Ca(2+)]i, CaM activity or inducible nitric oxide synthase expression with respectively ryanodine plus 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl-borate, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalensulfonamide hydrochloride and N-[(3-(aminomethyl)-phenyl]methyl]-ethanimidamide dihydrochloride. Data in vivo supported these findings and showed that GFAP expression induced by IL-1ß (50 ng/ml) correlated with attenuated glial scar formation and reduced neuronal apoptosis. Our data identified the NF-kB/Ca(2+)-CaM/ERK signaling pathway as a novel in vivo key regulator of IL-1ß-induced astrogliosis which may represent a potential target in neurodegeneration.

Influence of dental restorative materials on ESR biodosimetry in tooth enamel.

Using an experimental model and PENELOPE Monte Carlo simulations, the effects of resin and amalgam on the absorbed doses in tooth enamel were studied to evaluate the feasibility of using restored teeth in electron spin resonance (ESR) dose reconstruction. The model consisted of a phantom containing a plate of these restorative materials placed between powered enamel layers exposed to X rays and a 6°Co beam. The experimental results and simulations agreed, showing that the attenuation produced by amalgam and resin with a thickness of 1, 2, and 4 mm is similar to that produced by the enamel itself in the case of the radiation sources employed. For X rays and 6°Co γ radiation the attenuation reached almost 100% and 40%, respectively. These results show that for ESR dose reconstruction, the use of all available enamel of a tooth leads to errors in the estimated dose due to attenuation effects in both healthy and restored teeth. Thus the importance of an enamel selection from different sides of the tooth surface to apply ESR dose reconstruction in the case of a practical situation is shown.

Magnetization transfer imaging demonstrates a distributed pattern of microstructural changes of the cerebral cortex in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To date, damage of the cerebral cortex neurons in ALS was investigated by using conventional MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy. We explored the capability of MTI to map the microstructural changes in cerebral motor and extramotor cortices of patients with ALS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with ALS and 17 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. A high-resolution 3D SPGR sequence with and without MT saturation pulses was obtained on a 1.5T scanner to compute MTR values. Using the FMRIB Software Library tools, we automatically computed the MTR of the cerebral cortex GM in 48 regions of the entire cerebral cortex derived from the standard Harvard-Oxford cortical atlas. RESULTS: The MTR values were significantly lower in patients with ALS than in healthy controls in the primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus), nonprimary motor areas (superior and middle frontal gyri and superior parietal lobe), and some extramotor areas (frontal pole, planum temporale, and planum polare). No correlation was found between regional MTR values and the severity of clinical deficits or disease duration. CONCLUSIONS: MTI analysis can detect the distributed pattern of microstructural changes of the GM in the cerebral cortex of patients with ALS with involvement of both the motor and extramotor areas.

Sumo1-ylation of human spermatozoa and its relationship with semen quality.

Sumoylation is a post-translational modification involved in the regulation of several cell functions. Recent studies suggest its involvement in spermatogenesis, but occurrence and function of SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) in mature spermatozoa remain unknown. We report the occurrence of several SUMO1-conjugated proteins, in a range of 20-85 kDa, in ejaculated spermatozoa. By cytofluorimetric analysis, we evaluated the percentage of SUMO1-positive spermatozoa in 58 subjects undergoing semen analysis in our laboratory and correlated the obtained values with semen parameters. We found that the percentage of SUMO1-positive spermatozoa was inversely correlated with total (r = -0.35, p < 0.01) and progressive motility (r = -0.29, p < 0.05). Such correlations become stricter when only asthenospermic subjects were included in the analysis (r = -0.58, p = 0.01 for progressive motility, n = 17) and were lost in non-asthenospermic subjects. By immunofluorescence and immunoconfocal fluorescence, we demonstrated that SUMO1 is mainly located in the nucleus and, occasionally, in the midpiece of spermatozoa. Immunoelectron microscopy as well as a long permeabilization protocol demonstrated a massive localization of SUMO-1 in the nucleus. By using a fluorescent probe to distinguish dead/live cells, we show that SUMO1 is mainly present in live spermatozoa. In conclusion, sumoylation of human spermatozoa may be involved in the regulation of motility.

Uso de bridas de polipropileno para la desepidermización en mamoplastias de reducción / Polipropilene strap: use in deepithelization in reduction mammaplasty

Muchos métodos han sido utilizados para facilitar la desepidermización en mamoplastias de reducción. Uno de los aspectos más importantes es proporcionar una adecuada tensión para hacer dicha tarea fácil y sin muchas dificultades. Sin duda, esa es la parte más tediosa de la reducción mamaria porque se necesita una buena tensión durante un tiempo. Por tanto, cualquier maniobra que facilite esta tarea, es bienvenida. Presentamos la aplicación de una brida de polipropileno con objeto de proporcionar tensión y desepidermización adecuadas en mamoplastias de reducción. Esta maniobra de retracción hace más fácil y rápido este paso de la intervención (AU)

Many methods have been used to make easy skin deepithelization in reduction mammaplasty. The most important is to provide a good tension in order to harvest the skin quickly, easier and without difficulties. Surely, this is the most tedious part of breast reduction, because you need a very good breast tension, so anything that can be done to hasten this step is welcome. We report the application of a polypropilene strap to improve breast tension and deepithelization in breast reduction. This retraction maneuver makes this step of the operation quicker and easier (AU)

Satisfacción en pacientes con reconstrucción mamaria con colgajo D. I. E. P / Patient’s satisfaction after diep flap reconstruction

La reconstrucción mamaria tras mastectomía se realiza primordialmente para proporcionar calidad de vida a la paciente. Este estudio se desarrolló para valorar la satisfacción y calidad de vida de las pacientes reconstruidas mediante colgajo D.I.E.P. (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator)y evaluar el resultado estético de la reconstrucción. Treinta y tres pacientes, de 51 reconstrucciones mamarias con colgajo DIEP realizadas entre enero de 2000 y noviembre de 2004 fueron preguntadas acerca de aspectos generales relativos a la cirugía, imagen corporal y sensación subjetiva. El resultado de imagen corporal fue evaluado por dos observadores externos, un cirujano plástico y una enfermera, además de por la propia paciente. Para valorar la reconstrucción mamaria, se utilizó una escala de 4 puntos. La satisfacción general de nuestro estudio fue más elevada que la observada en estudios precedentes. Hemos conseguido una valoración alta en simetría, dentro de los parámetros objetivos y en integridad corporal entre los subjetivos. Hemos encontrado una correlación alta entre las respuestas de los observadores comparada con las respuestas de las propias pacientes. Por último, hemos visto una fuerte correlación entre integridad corporal y satisfacción general (AU)

Breast reconstructions after breast cancer surgery are primarily performed to improve patient’s quality of life. This study investigates patient’s satisfaction and quality of life with breast reconstruction after deep inferior epigastric perforator (D.I.E.P.) flap surgery and to evaluate the aesthetic result of the breast reconstruction. Thirty-three patiens, from fifty-one DIEP breast reconstruction made between January 2000 and December 2004 were answered about three questionnaires concerning to general aspect, body image, and subjective sensation. The body image outcome was also evaluated by one plastic surgeon and a nurse. The panel evaluated breast reconstruction on 4 subescales. General satisfaction in our study was higher than in previous ones. We have received a high degree of symmetry in the objetive evaluation and a high score in body integrity in the subjective evaluation. We have found a stronger correlation between clinical observer answers compared with patient´s assessment and a strong correlation between body integrity and general satisfaction outcome (AU)